“This is an unethical practice that prevents the freedom of choice and the rights of an individual when there has been agreed or assumed protection to practice safe sex,” she said.

This form of deceit is nothing new, but there’s now a name for it. Listeners of Hack had plenty more names for stealthing too, like “disgusting”, “violating” and constituting rape culture.

Despite the risks that come with unprotected sex, especially when not disclosed, legal backing for stealthing is still in a grey area. While sex without consent is an offense, stealthing remains on rocky grounds when it comes to prosecution.

This call to attention couldn’t come at a more alarming time for Novocastrians. A decade ago there were almost 3000 recorded cases of Chlamydia in the Hunter region and the numbers were set to rise.

“There is no specific data linking stealthing to increased STI transmission,” Brookman said. “But there is always an increased risk of transmission whenever there is an exchange of body fluids and also of unintended pregnancy in male/female relationships.”

Sexual health is not a matter of “their body, their problem”. Stealthing promotes a dangerous mentality that Newcastle should be responding to with speed and force.

If you would like to talk to someone concerning the topics discussed in this feature, you can contact UON’s counselling services here. If you would like more information on sexual health and wellbeing, visit UON’s Sexual Health page.